![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
With that in mind, it is time to look at where all 17 teams rank from best to worst after the first seven rounds of the comp.<\/p>\n
Read on for foxsports.com.au\u2019s NRL power rankings!<\/p>\n
1. PENRITH PANTHERS<\/p>\n
Looked on track for a historic season a fortnight ago after five straight wins by at least 20 points to start the year, but they looked human in Rounds 6 and 7.<\/p>\n
They were ordinary against the Bulldogs, put down to an off night, then in un-Penrith like fashion, let the Dolphins back in after leading 18-0 at half time. <\/p>\n
Despite all the momentum against them, Penrith were able to turn the tide late and win in golden point \u2013 a win which thrilled coach Ivan Cleary as it showed his group can win when faced with adversity after five easy victories when dictating terms.<\/p>\n
Sitting pretty atop the ladder, there\u2019s no clear standout in behind them so they are comfortably at No. 1 in these rankings.<\/p>\n
2. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS<\/p>\n
After beginning the season with three wins, it was thought they may have crashed back down to earth when they lost two straight in Round 4 and 5.<\/p>\n
Thankfully for their passionate fan base, the Wahs have looked good in winning their past couple, including a dominant win over their bogey side Melbourne. <\/p>\n
Tanah Boyd has continued to thrive at his second club, and it could be argued he\u2019s been much better with Luke Metcalf sidelined.<\/p>\n
2nd on the ladder and deserve to be ranked this high as they boast some good scalps already this season. <\/p>\n
3. SYDNEY ROOSTERS<\/p>\n
When they\u2019re on, they\u2019re on, as evidenced by that blistering second half against Newcastle. <\/p>\n
Trent Robinson\u2019s men are now one of the hottest teams in the comp, as the Roosters and Manly are the only two sides with a current win streak of three or more. <\/p>\n
The concern is the gap between their best and worst is quite wide. It seems that bad football can be just around the corner with this side and they can be pretty hot and cold within one 80-minute game. <\/p>\n
With that said, they\u2019re a live premiership hope with strikepower all over the park. <\/p>\n
The Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker partnership is improving each week and James Tedesco arguably the form fullback of the comp in a couple of ominous signs for the rest of the NRL.<\/p>\n
Could the Roosters chase Cleary? | 04:22<\/p>\n
4. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS<\/p>\n
A little hiccup against the Raiders in Perth, but they quickly atoned against the struggling Dragons.<\/p>\n
It can\u2019t be understated just how significant Latrell Mitchell is to a team when he\u2019s at his best. <\/p>\n
He nearly doubled the Dragons\u2019 points total himself on the weekend, outscoring the opposition 22-12. <\/p>\n
Matt Dufty was outstanding at fullback and can be trusted at the back until Jye Gray returns. <\/p>\n
They tick a lot of boxes this team and are a genuine premiership threat despite a disappointing 2025 campaign. <\/p>\n
5. WESTS TIGERS<\/p>\n
Seemingly everyone\u2019s second favourite team this year are the Tigers.<\/p>\n
The ultimate NRL also-ran over the past five years have turned things around in 2026. <\/p>\n
Benji Marshall has his troops playing an exciting brand of footy that showcases the team\u2019s most talented players. <\/p>\n
Moreover, they are a tough, hard-headed group who don\u2019t take a backwards step against anyone. <\/p>\n
After a heartbreaking loss to Brisbane, the Tigers have a great chance to get back in the winners circle when they play Canberra at fortress Leichhardt Oval. <\/p>\n
Makasini misses out in Tigers tough call | 02:37<\/p>\n
6. BRISBANE BRONCOS<\/p>\n
Outside of the Eels, no team has been hit harder on the injury front than Brisbane.<\/p>\n
While expectations were obvioulsy high entering the season, fans would be pretty content with where the Broncos are on the ladder (7th, 4 wins, 3 losses) given the circumstances.<\/p>\n
The gritty win over the Tigers could be a defining moment of their season. They had their backs against the wall in a tough environment and down on a few key spine members but were able to fight back to win. <\/p>\n
A ripping primetime clash against the Bulldogs back at home awaits. <\/p>\n
7. MANLY SEA EAGLES <\/p>\n
It\u2019s been quite stunning what the Sea Eagles have been able to achieve since Anthony Seibold\u2019s sacking. <\/p>\n
Kieran Foran is 3\/3 in his coaching career and has helped lift a rejuvenated Manly into the top eight.<\/p>\n
Whether they are genuine title threats remain to be seen but they\u2019re now well placed and Foran is firming to win the full-time role.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s been most impressive has been the manner they\u2019ve won. Manly have a +76 points differential during the three-game win streak.<\/p>\n
9. CANBERRA RAIDERS<\/p>\n
It was a somewhat worrying start for the Raiders. The tight tussles they were winning last season, weren\u2019t going their way.<\/p>\n
Ricky Stuart said after a Round 5 loss that this was a new experience for his young group and that they had to work through it. <\/p>\n
They\u2019ve done that, being able to close out a couple of thrillers against the Rabbits and Storm despite the momentum being against them in the final few minutes. <\/p>\n
Canberra will take a stack of benefit out of those performances. <\/p>\n
Next up is a blockbuster against the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval. <\/p>\n
10. BULLDOGS<\/p>\n
Would have been comfortably in the top eight of these rankings had it been last week after their massive win over a high-flying Penrith side \u2026 but that loss to Parra was brutal.<\/p>\n
Simply put, it was a game they shouldn\u2019t have dropped and it leaves more questions than answers around this side and just how genuine they are. <\/p>\n
In a massive boost, captain Stephen Crichton will return this week although the club are poised to be without star winger Jacob Kiraz for a few weeks at least.<\/p>\n
Cameron Ciraldo\u2019s side have been hard to gauge this season.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
11. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a stellar effort from new coach Justin Holbrook to turn this team\u2019s fortunes around. <\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s wooden spooners were third on the ladder a fortnight ago before losses to the Tigers and Roosters.<\/p>\n
They looked like world beaters in the first half, going to half time with a comfortable lead on the road but the Chooks just couldn\u2019t\u2019 be stopped after the break. <\/p>\n
The top eight probably wasn\u2019t what most had in mind for Newcastle this season but based on the play of not only their stars, but the role players under Holbrook, a finals berth is well within reach, especially when Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best return to the fray.<\/p>\n
12. CRONULLA SHARKS<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve been one of the toughest teams to gauge this season.<\/p>\n
Cronulla enter Round 7 off a bye and it\u2019s time for them to mount their top eight credentials. <\/p>\n
Their next assignment is a tough road trip to Townsville to play the Cowboys, but it\u2019s a winnable game.<\/p>\n
The halves pairing of Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall have been their bright spot this season but they need more from a couple of their other stars namely Addin Fonua-Blake.<\/p>\n
13. NQ COWBOYS<\/p>\n
What was that against Manly? Arguably one of the worst halves of football by any team all year. They completed 43%. <\/p>\n
When they\u2019re firing, the Cowboys are so good to watch, but that was plain ugly in Townsville last Thursday. <\/p>\n
After a rough start, they showed plenty of fight for their under fire coach to win four straight before last week\u2019s hiccup.<\/p>\n
Their young players, particularly Tom Chester and axon Purdue are having big seasons so far. <\/p>\n
Skipper Tom Dearden has been quiet but don\u2019t expect him to stay that way for long. <\/p>\n
A tough test awaits against the Shatks off a bye. <\/p>\n
14. PARRAMATTA EELS<\/p>\n
Not many gave them a chance last Sunday but not only did they upset the Bulldogs, they won comfortably. <\/p>\n
The extent of their injury toll is hard to fathom, but with Mitch Moses in the side, they\u2019re always a hope. <\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n
15. MELBOURNE STORM<\/p>\n
Jarring to see them lose five straight. It just doesn\u2019t happen under Craig Bellamy.<\/p>\n
Way too early to suggest they\u2019re in danger of missing the eight.<\/p>\n
Forwards are undermanned but need to lift while several players are struggling to make their tackles with Cam Munster and Jahrome Hughes both in the top 10 for missed tackles. <\/p>\n
They play Souths this weekend, with the Bunnies yet to beat the Storm at AAMI Park.<\/p>\n
16. GOLD COAST TITANS<\/p>\n
May be down the bottom of the ladder again, but they aren\u2019t travelling too badly the Titans.<\/p>\n
The win against Parramatta was terrific. With their best players in full flight, they looked unstoppable that afternoon.<\/p>\n
Josh Hannay wouldn\u2019t be too pleased with the lack of consistency. Their second half against the Warriors was something to take into next week, but there\u2019s no doubt their coach would be wondering where that was in the first half. <\/p>\n
A bye this week to recharge the batteries before a home game against Canberra. <\/p>\n
17. ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t think there will be any complaints here. <\/p>\n
At this stage, the Red V easily the worst team in the comp.<\/p>\n
It came to a head on Monday when Shane Flanagan departed the club. <\/p>\n
You wonder whether it will have the same affect as it has at Manly, who have won three straight under interim Kieran Foran.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, but if Dean Young is able to pull that off with this side who are so down on confidence, it\u2019ll be some sort of coaching effort. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nearly two months into the season and the Panthers look to be the team to beat, but what…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":393194,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[32727,85,2652,19549,5636,203172,9504,4618,9498,179801,142522,203175,5627,8059,203163,172978,203174,94274,2647,203161,203162,5637,115884,175241,203168,16851,32689,79708,62742,62753,48163,203164,31678,48167,21093,68283,2648,111,8049,75636,139,69,2659,203165,9486,72,203159,203173,23489,203176,73390,101722,213,203169,155311,20184,1734,2654,203178,203158,203177,68287,6887,33815,203167,203171,203166,203160,203170,148964,53136],"class_list":{"0":"post-393193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-addin-fonua-blake","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","11":"tag-australian-capital-territory","12":"tag-benji-marshall","13":"tag-bogey-side","14":"tag-brisbane-broncos","15":"tag-canberra","16":"tag-canberra-raiders","17":"tag-coaching-career","18":"tag-cold-start","19":"tag-comfortable-lead","20":"tag-cronulla-sharks","21":"tag-daly-cherry-evans","22":"tag-defining-moment","23":"tag-dominant-win","24":"tag-favourite-team","25":"tag-finals-berth","26":"tag-fox-league","27":"tag-genuine-premiership-threat","28":"tag-genuine-title-threats","29":"tag-gold-coast-titans","30":"tag-halves-pairing","31":"tag-home-game","32":"tag-injury-toll","33":"tag-ivan-cleary","34":"tag-jacob-kiraz","35":"tag-james-tedesco","36":"tag-josh-hannay","37":"tag-justin-holbrook","38":"tag-jye-gray","39":"tag-key-spine-members","40":"tag-kieran-foran","41":"tag-latrell-mitchell","42":"tag-luke-metcalf","43":"tag-mitch-moses","44":"tag-new-south-wales","45":"tag-new-zealand","46":"tag-new-zealand-warriors","47":"tag-newcastle-knights","48":"tag-newzealand","49":"tag-nz","50":"tag-oceania","51":"tag-passionate-fan-base","52":"tag-penrith-panthers","53":"tag-perth","54":"tag-power-rankings","55":"tag-puzzling-issue","56":"tag-ricky-stuart","57":"tag-role-players","58":"tag-rugby-league-news","59":"tag-sam-walker","60":"tag-sports","61":"tag-star-duo","62":"tag-star-winger","63":"tag-stephen-crichton","64":"tag-sydney","65":"tag-sydney-roosters","66":"tag-talented-players","67":"tag-teams-rank","68":"tag-three-game-win-streak","69":"tag-tom-dearden","70":"tag-western-australia","71":"tag-wests-tigers","72":"tag-win-streak","73":"tag-winners-circle","74":"tag-world-beaters","75":"tag-worst-team","76":"tag-young-group","77":"tag-young-players","78":"tag-zealand-warriors"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=393193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/393194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=393193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=393193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=393193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}